Thank you for attending the 2025 Virginia Forum on Infrastructure and Its Impact on Economic Development.
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce was proud to host this important event, which brought together leaders from business, government, and industry to explore how strategic infrastructure investments drive long-term prosperity across the Commonwealth.

Please find event photos below.

View the official agenda, HERE.

View the digital program, HERE.

View the digital bio book, HERE.

Social Toolkit:  

If you’re a speaker, sponsor, or attendee, you can find a sponsor toolkit to download and customize by clicking HERE.

We are proud to announce the highlights of this year’s Forum:

Keynote Speakers:  

• Jennifer Ganten, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
• John Hewa, President & CEO, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Presentation:

• Bruce McKay, Chair of the Natural Gas Coalition of Virginia

Learn about this newly-formed advocacy group created to provide education, outreach, and public relations to the public and policymakers alike.

TED TALK: The Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor

• Jay Dickens, the Lester Group

Hear an update on the business community coming together to transform Virginia’s vibrant landscape from Danville to Martinsville and from Roanoke to Blacksburg.

Panel Discussions:

From Red Tape to Green Lights: Accelerating Infrastructure Through Smarter Permitting

Permitting and development decisions are fundamentally local — shaped by community priorities, staffing capacity, and political will. While some jurisdictions proactively embrace infrastructure development and invest accordingly, others face resource constraints or policy hesitations that slow or stall critical projects.

Businesses leaders and developers often struggle with how to navigate these complex and fragmented permitting environments, especially in smaller or rural communities where infrastructure needs are high but institutional capacity can be limited. This panel will explore how the public and private sectors can work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively to advance infrastructure projects. Panelists will share real-world permitting strategies, discuss tools for building local government capacity, and identify common pitfalls that stall progress.

Moderator: Todd Haymore, Managing Director, Global Economic Development, Commerce & Government Relations Practice Group, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Panelists:

• Michael Dreiling, Vice President, Real Estate Solutions, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
• Jennifer Montague, President and Chief Operating Officer, Columbia Gas of Virginia
• Maria Saab, Senior Manager, AWS State & Local Government and Education Public Policy, Amazon
• Andrea Wortzel, Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Group Leader and Partner, Troutman Pepper Locke

Infrastructure Resilience, Sustainability, and Security: Business-Led Solutions in an Era of Uncertainty

As infrastructure funding faces increased constraints, Virginia businesses are being called upon to take a more active role in advancing the resilience, sustainability, and security of critical systems — from energy and transportation to water, communications, and supply chains.

This panel brings together industry leaders across these fields to consider how the private sector can “lead the charge” in building more adaptive, future-ready infrastructure — even amid tightening budgets and rising risks from climate change, cyber threats, and aging systems. Panelists will discuss ideas, best practices for assessing vulnerabilities, integrating sustainability into business planning, leveraging private capital, and partnering with local and state agencies.

Moderator: Brad Hall, Vice President of External Affairs, Appalachian Power Company

Panelists:

• Jeff Merritt, Market Vice President, Cox Communications, Hampton Roads
• William L. Murray, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications, Dominion Energy
• Shannon O. Pierce, President and CEO, Virginia Natural Gas
• Laura Runkle, President of Maryland and Virginia American Water